Re: COMPLICATIONS OF SURGERY ??????

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/11/2001 10:11:59 PM Central Daylight Time,

caramianyc@... writes:

> My question is this...how long after the surgery can we say that we

> are totally safe & out of the woods for life threatening

> complications from this surgery.

> Is it 30 days, 3 months, 1 year?...Or is it something that we will

> have to be concerned about for the rest of our lives...

>

I think one of the biggest risks of complication after surgery is developing

a leak and the infections and such that leaks can cause. Dr. Hess told me

that the biggest risk is in the first 10 days and that after a month the risk

is practically nonexistent. Like anyone who has had abdominal surgery, there

is a small risk of bowel obstruction from adhesions forever, but the risk is

very, very small. I had moments after surgery where I obsessed about my

health, but then I decided things would happen (very tiny risk) or not happen

and I had no control over that, so I needed to live and not worry about it.

Dawn--South Suburban Chicago area

Dr. Hess, Bowling Green, OH

BPD/DS

4/27/00

www.duodenalswitch.com

267 to 165 5' 4 "

size 22 to size 10

have made size goal

no more high blood pressure, sore feet, or dieting

[Guest guest]

> very, very small. I had moments after surgery where I

> obsessed about my health, but then I decided things would

> happen (very tiny risk) or not happen and I had no control

> over that, so I needed to live and not worry about it.

Dawn,

I just love that attitude of yours! I agree wholeheartedly, too. I've

had two surgeries before, one major, one minor. Both times I

was told of the risks (including death, even in the minor one) and

potential long-term complications. At one point, I just decided I

had to do it and come what may!

I'm still pre-op on the DS, but I am well aware of the risks and

potential complications. Assuming that one of my complications

will NOT be death (at which point nothing else applies), I figured

that I can live with and/or manage any other complications

because the alternative - not having surgery - is simply not an

option. Life, especially after 9/11/01, is simply too short for

unhappiness.

-

[Guest guest]

COMPLICATIONS OF SURGERY ??????

> My question is this...how long after the surgery can we say that we

> are totally safe & out of the woods for life threatening

> complications from this surgery.

I think the answer is " never. " We will *always* have to take vitamins and

calcium, get yearly blood tests, and watch out for bowel obstructions.

However, the risk of clot dissipates fairly quickly.

Then again, how long will I be totally safe w/o the surgery? Same

answer... " never. " I will always have high cholesterol and high

triglycerides, and I will always have to worry about diabetes and high blood

pressure.

I understand your fear completely, and I share it to a degree. Just

remember -- no healthy person says healthy by turning his/her back on

his/her health, right??

~alyssa

itchin' to be switchin'...dec 20,2001